Ice-cutter



(Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. D. FALARDO. 1GB GUTTER.

No. 245,116.l Patented Aug. 2,1881.

1 v 1/ r11 1 l/ /l/ l /1 /J INVBNTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

u4 PEYKRS4 Plwm-Lilhogmpher. washington, '1. C.

UNITED STATESi VPATENT EEICE.

PETER D. FALARDO, OF COHOES, NEW YORK.

ICE-CUTTER.

`SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 245,146, dated August 2, 1881.

Application tiled April 2B, 1881. (Model.)

To all uhom t may concern:

Be it known that'I, PETER D. FALARDO, of Uohoes, in the county ot' Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ice-Gutter, of` which.` the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesto machines that are operated by steam-engines for cutting ice on ponds, rivers, and lakes; and its object is to provide an improved machine for cutting iceblockslen gthwise and c'rosswise, and of a in ovable track and devices formoving the same sidewise while the ice-'cutter is on it, and devices for transporting the cutter from place to place.

The invention consistsin constructing the machine with forward driving-wheels that can be thrown in and out of gear with the driving mechanism by suitable levers, in order to start or move the machine at the will ot' the operator; ot' a device for periodically and auto matically checking the movement ot' the inachine, for the purpose of cross-'cuttin g the ice '5 of devices for moving the cross-cut saw and its frame, and for stopping the revolutionsof the former; of devices for moving the cutter and track together laterally; and of other novel mechanical devices and combinations, all of which will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the improved ice-cutter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a plan of thereverse ot' the same. Fig. 4. is a sectional side elevation on line m w, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of a section ot' the track onwhich theicecutter operates. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation ofthe same on line y g/,Fig 5. Fig. 7 is an end elevation ot' the device for moving the track and ice-cutter laterally, showing the application of the device to the track, which latter is in cross-section on line z z, Fig. 5. Fig. Sis a side elevation, showing the device applied to the track for transporting track and ice-cutter. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a joint of the track.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

ln the drawn gs, A represents the frame or body ot` the machine, which is, preierably,rectangular and constructed in a suitable way toA support the working parts. 0n this frame A are mounted a steam boiler and engine, B B',

th at supply the motive power for the ice-cutter mechanism.

Supported in suitable boxes a a on the under side of the frame A, near the front thereof, is the front' axle, C', on which are rigidly secured the cogged driving-wheels G C. On

this axle C' are the two loose pulleys D D', adapted to be thrown in or out of gear with said axle C'. The pulley D has a clutch, b, attached to it, that is designed to engage with pins'b in the said axle O', and the pulleyD is provided with pins c', with which may engage the clutch c, that slides on said axle C', said clutch devices being so arranged that the pulleys D VD' maybe thrown in or out of gear with the axle C' by means ot' the shifter D2.

On the top of the frame A are two standards, E' E', supporting a transverse horizontal shaft, E, on which are keyed the drivingpulleys E2 E3, from which are extended belts F F to the loose pulleys D D', the belt F, running from the pulley E2 to the pulley D, being crossed for reversing the movement of the icecutter, as desired. On the said shaft E is the pulley or crank E, to which is connected the connecting-rod B2 of the engine B'.

G G' represent the ilanged rear supportingwheels ofthe device, having their axles journaled in suitable boxes d d on the under side of the frame A.

A spindle, H', extends laterally through the hub of the wheel Cr, and has its outer end extending beyond the side of the frame A, while its inner end is journaled in a hanger, f, that is secured on the under side ot" said frame A. 0n each end of this spindle H' are secured the swinging bars g g, that are held together by a cross-bar, g', thereby forming a swin gin gi'rame, G2, in Whose free ends is journaled the arbor H2 of the circular saw H, that is designed for cutting the longitudinal grooves in the ice.

On the spindle H' is a pulley, H3, around which is passed the belt F2, which is driven.

by the pulley E5 on the shaft E; and on this spindle H' is another pulley, H4, that is counected with the pulley H5 on the saw-arbor H2 by a belt, H6, by means of' which said saw H is driven. This frame G2, carrying the saw H, is vertically adjustable, and hencesaid saw H can be raised or lowered at the will of the operator for making a deep or shallow cut,

IOO

or can be raised altogether clear of the ice by the action of the lever I and its attached perpendicular rod I', the said lever I being fulcrumed on a standard, I2, fastened on the top of the frame A, near a side thereof, and the lower end of the rod I being connected with the cross-bar g' of the saw-frame G2. A rack or ratchet standard, I, serves for holding the lever I, and consequently the saw H, at any desired elevation.

The cross-cutting circular-saw frame K is pivoted on a shaft, K', which is journaled 1ongitudinally of the frame A in suitable hangers, K2, that depend from the under side of said frame A, said frame K being extended laterally a suitable distance beyond the plane of the circular saw H, and carrying journaled in its outer end a saw-arbor, L', on which is the circular saw L.

A spiral spring, K3, connects the crosscutsaw frame K with the frame A, and holds the former up clear from the ice when said saw L is not required for operation.

On the shaft K' is a pulley, K4, and said shaft K is driven by a belt, K5, connecting said pulley K4 with a driving-pulley, KG, on the driving-shaft E. The saw L is driven by a belt, L2, connecting the pulley L3 on the shaft K' with the pulley L4 on the saw-arbor L.

The mechanism for forcing the crosscuttingsaw L down upon the ice, and for at the same time arresting the forward movement of the ice-cutter, consists of a shaft M, set transverselyacross the frame A and journaled in boxes m on the under side thereof, said shaft M carrying on one end an eccentric cam, M, and on the other' end a cam-wheel, M2,.the former of which presses and holds down the saw L, when the shaft M is revolved, by contact with a cross-bar of the frame K, while the camwheel M2 engages in a slot, a, in the lever N, that is pivoted on the block P' in the top of the frame A, and has an end secured by pin n to the shifter D2, and thereby moves said shifter D2 sutiiciently to throw the pulley D' out of gear with the axle C', whereby the forward motion of the said axle C and its attached wheels C is stopped and the machine brought toast-and, while the sawL is operating to crosscut the ice, into which it cuts until it sinks nearly to its hub, said saw L being designed to be of suicient diameter thus to out the usual width of a block of ice that is designed for market. Meanwhile the pulley D still revolving transmits its motion from its hub or sleeve D3 by means of the belt D4 to the sliding clutch-pulley M3 on the shaft M, and said pulley M2, being thrown by the operator into gear with the studs o in said shaft M by means of the shifter O' and its lever O, said shaft M is revolved with the effect of causing the eccentric cam M' to press and hold down the saw L, as stated above, which saw L, revolving, cross-cuts the ice.

The downward pressure of the cam M' upon the erosscut-saw frame K continues during a quarter-revolution of the shaft M, and then,

as the said shaft M continues to revolve, the pressure of said cam M' is released and the frame K is raised by the action of the spring H3, and during this movement the cam-wheel M2, engaged in the lever N, holds the pulley D out of gear with the axle C', with the effect of stopping the forward motion of the ice-cutA ter; but as soon as the half-revolution of the shaft M is completed the reverse spiral cam of the wheel M2 throws the lever N in the opposite direction, thereby causing the shifter D2 to throw the pulley D' in gear again with the axle C', whereby the wheels C are again revolved and the ice-cutter moved ahead for the operation of the saw H. The operator at the same time throws the clutch-pulley M2 out of gear with the shaft M by means of the camlever O, and the forward movementof the icecutter continues.

The cam-wheel M2 operates through the lever N and shifter D2 only to throw the pulley D in and out of gear with the axle C', and in order to bring the pulley D in gear with the axle C' by means of the clutch c a more extended movement of the shifter D2 is required, which is accomplished by means of the sliding bar I), which is held to the top of the frame A, near and parallel with an edge thereof, by boxes or guides p, and has its laterally-inclined end portion, q, embraced by a block, I, which slides laterallyin acorresponding groove in the frame A, on which block I" the leverN is pivoted. The opposite end of the sliding bar I?, extending rearward, is connected with a lever, Q., that is fulerumed on a standard, Q', within easy reach of the engineer or operator, so that by movement of said lever Q the sliding bar P is pushed forward or back in the block P', and by rea-son of the contact of the inclined planes of the bar I at q and the corresponding slot orgroove in theblook P' thcsaid block P'is moved laterally, moving with it the lever N to a greater degree than it can he moved by the cam-wheel M2, whereby the clutch c is thrown in gear with the pulley D, the pulley D' being at the same time thrown out ofgear, and the motion oftheice-cutter thereby reversed; or the contrary movement ofthe lever Q will gea-r the pulley D and ungear the pulley D, so that the ice-cutter shall resume its forward movement.

That the motion of the erosscutting-saw L may be stopped when desired, the pulley KG on the shaft E is made a loose pulley, and a clutch, s, sliding on the shaft E, and operated by a shifter, T, affords means for throwing said pulley K6 in or out of gear with the shaft E, and thereby causing the motion or cessation of :notion of the saw L, as may be desired.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction of parts as herein shown, as it is evident that they may be modified without departing from my invention.

It will be seen that theforward wheels, C C, give motion to the ice-cutter forward or back, and that they can be thrown in or out of gear with their axle; and that the cam-wheel M2,

of the ice-cutter long enough for the cross-cutting saw L to cut the `ice crosswise, and that v at the same time the motion of the saw H is not interrupted, so that when again applied to the ice'it is moving with full velocity.

It willbeobserved, also, that at each-revolution of thewheelS-G C the mechanism operates to force down thesaw L to make a crosscut.

R repre; ents the track on which the ice-cutter moves. It is held on the ice by bars or -pins t2 driven into the ice through eyes t3 projecting from said track R, and consists of rails R', having outside raised edges, t, and teeth or cogs t' to correspond with the cogs of the wheels C C. Y'Ihe opposite rails R' are held together by cross-bars R2, whose ends are rounded olf, as shown at u, that the track may be easily moved sidewise when desired, and at their points the said rails R' are held together by hooks land staples u or other convenient device.

From side to side through the track R are Y passed rods S, having one end bent at right angles, as shown at o', and a button or stop, '02, on the other end. These rods S are designed as gages for regulatingthewidth of the blocks of ice to be cut. When one longitudinal cut has been made parallel with the track R, and the said track and ice-machine are to be moved laterally for another and parallel cut, the ends c' of the rods S are inserted inthe first cut made, and the track and ice-cutter moved laterally until the track is stopped against the stops Q22 parallel with the said first cut and at a proper distance from it for anothercut to be made.

The mechanism for moving the track and ice-cutter laterally consistsof a winch or windlass, U, which is held fast on the ice or on the shore by bars or pins w driven into the ice or ground, preferably at an inclination, as shown in Fig. 7, to withstand the opposing strain, and of rope or chain U', extending from said winch U and made fast in eye-bolts w', that are secured in the track R, as shown. The anchoringbars or pins t2 being withdrawn from the ice, power is applied to the winch U, and the track and ice-cutter thereby pulled laterally as far as may be desired, Winches U being xed in proper and convenient position for such purpose.

When it is desired to remove the ice-cutter from one locality to another on the ice, a sled, W, is -linked to an end of the track R, asindicated in Fig. 8, and'the ice-cutter is run thereon, and then by power applied to the sled rope or chain W' both icc-cutter and track are drawn along.

I do not conline myself to the precise construction of theice-cutter as herein shown and described, Vas it is evident that it may be modified without departingfrom my invention--as, for instance, in the placing of suitable hoods over the saws to prevent the ice and water from being thrown upon the machine when the saws are in operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. An improved ice-cutter, constructed substantially as herein shown and described, containing the following elements: cogged drivin g-wheels, in combination with a cogged movable track, mechanism for stopping the motion of the machine or giving it a forward or backward motion, as desired, a vertically-adjustable crosscutting -saw and frame combined with automatic mechanism for checking the forward movement of the cutter long enough to crosscut each ice-block, a constantly-revolving 1ongitudinally-cntting saw combined with a vertically-adjusting mechanism, and mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the crosscuttiug saw, so that it shall be made to operate or not at the will of the operator, arranged and operating as Set forth.

2. In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the driving-wheel C G, axle C',provided with pins b', and pulley D', provided with clutch b, of the lever N' and shifter D2, substantially as herein shown and described,whereby the cutterris started forward or checked in its forward movement, as set forth.

3. In an ice-cutter,the combination, with the drivin g-wheels C C, axle C', provided with clutch c, shifter D2, and lever N, pivoted in grooved sliding block P', of the longitudinallysliding bar I), havinginclined edges g, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the motion of said cutter is reversed, as set forth.

4. In an 'ice-cutter, the combination, with the shifter-lever N, provided with slot n, of the revolving cam-wheel M2, engaged in said slot vn, substantially as herein shown and described,

whereby said lever is made to automatically operate the said shifter, as set forth.

5. In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the main driving-shaft E and pulley E5, of the spindle H', vertically-adjustable swinging frame G2, pulleys H3 H4 H5, and circular saw H, arranged andoperating substantially' as herein shown and described.

6. In an ice-cutter, the combinatioinwith the longitudinal shaft K', circular-saw frameK, and crosscutting-saw L, of the spring K3, substantially as herein -shown and described, whereby said saw is held up from the ice when not in use, as set forth.

7 In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the vertically-swinging saw-frame K and saw L, ofthe transverse shaft M, provided withcam M', substantially as herein shown and described, whereby said saw and frame are forced and IOO held down for lthe saw to make a cross-cut, as

whereby the motion of the ice-cutter is stopped while the cross-cutting` saw L operates as set fort-h.

9. In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the crosscutting-saw frame and saw K L, shaft M, provided with cam and cam-wheel M M2, and geared axle-pulley D', provided with hub 01 sleeve D3, of the clutch-pulley M3 on shaft M and shifter and lever O O, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the shaft M is thrown in `gear to cause the cam M to force the saw L into the ice, as set forth.

10. In an ice cutter, as a means for stopping thc motion of the cross-saw L, the combination, with the saw-frame K and shaft K,provided with pulley K4 and driving-shaft E, of the loose clutch-pulley K6, substantially as herein shown and described, whereb5v said saw may be thrown out of gear with the drivingshaft, as set forth.

11. In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the track R, of the gages S, provided with bent ends v and stops e2, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the width of the ice-blocks and lateral adjustment of the cutter and rails are regulated, as set forth.

12. In an ice-cutter, as a means of moving the cutter and track laterally, the combination therewith of the Winches U, rope or chain U', and holding-bars u, substantially as herein shown and described.

13. In an ice-cutter, the combination, with the track R, ofthe sled W, linked thereto,sub stantially as herein shown and described, whereby said cutter and track can be drawn 3 5 longitudinally, as set forth.

PETER D. FALARDO.

Witnesses:

EARL L. STIMsoN, P. G. FALARDEAU. 

